Vietnamese Government chief meets leaders and European partners in Belgium

These meetings took place as part of a summit celebrating the 45th anniversary of relations between ASEAN and the EU and were held in Brussels on December 14 (local time).

During a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, PM Chinh emphasised that the recent official visit by the German Chancellor to Vietnam is of great significance, with the trip marking a new step in terms of the development of bilateral relations.

The PM went on to suggest the two sides continue to ramp up economic co-operation and strive to expand linkages in new areas such as responding to climate change, energy transformation, digital economy, and green growth.

For his part, Chancellor Scholz affirmed that Germany wishes to work alongside Vietnam in order to promote the framework of the Vietnam-Germany Strategic Partnership in an effective, substantive, and comprehensive way across multiple fields.

The two sides also agreed to maintain support and co-ordination in dealing with regional and international issues, thereby making positive contributions to peace, stability, and prosperity in the two regions and around the world.

At a meeting held with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, PM Chinh congratulated the Italian PM on her recent inauguration. He affirmed that Vietnam places great importance on its relationship with Italy, which it views an important member of the EU and the Group of industrialized countries (G7), whilst also being one of the leading economic and development partners of the EU. He thanked Italy for supporting the COVID-19 vaccine campaign in Vietnam.

PM Chinh suggested that the two sides take advantage of co-operation opportunities from the Vietnam - EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and strive to bring two-way trade turnover to US$7 billion over the next two to three years.

He also requested that Italy swiftly ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), support the EU’s removal of the "yellow card" placed on Vietnamese seafood exports, and create favourable conditions for Vietnamese seafood to access the EU and Italian markets.

PM Meloni full agreed with the opinions put forward by PM Chinh and emphasised that the 50th anniversary of both nations’ diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership is viewed as a prime opportunity in which the two sides can deepen and further strengthen the Vietnam - Italy strategic partnership across a variety of fields.

She also suggested the two countries continue to effectively implement bilateral co-operation mechanisms, including the successful organisation of the 4th Defence Dialogue in Italy ahead in 2023.

As part of the occasion, PM Chinh cordially invited his Italian counterpart to visit Vietnam and his invitation was graciously accepted.

At a meeting held with Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa, both sides were pleased to see that bilateral relations have made great strides over recent years and agreed on further measures to promote this relationship moving forward, especially in economic, trading, and investment co-operation.

PM Chinh proposed the two sides make effective use of the EVFTA, suggesting that Portugal create conditions for Vietnamese agricultural and fishery products to better enter the Portuguese and EU markets, as well as quickly ratifying the EVIPA.

He also asked that Portugal support the EU's early removal of the "yellow card" for Vietnamese seafood, strengthen co-operation in the fields of tourism, science and technology, green growth, and digital transformation.

In response, PM Costa pledged that Portugal will give maximum support to the EU’s removal of the "yellow card" on Vietnamese seafood, affirming that the Portuguese Government backs and wishes the EVIPA agreement to be adopted in 2023.

The Portuguese PM proposed that the two sides boost co-operation in infrastructure development, renewable energy, e-finance, and the implementation of green investment projects in Vietnam.

Both sides are also keen to intensify cultural exchange activities, tourism, education and training, as well as scientific and defence co-operation in the coming time, thereby contributing to deepening mutual understanding and moving the traditional friendship forward in a practical and effective manner.

At the meeting held with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, the Vietnamese Government leader emphasised that Vietnam always places importance on the traditional friendship and good co-operation with the Czech Republic, thanking the Czech side for helping Vietnam cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

He affirmed Vietnamese readiness to create optimal conditions for key Czech products such as crystal glassware, beer, food, equipment, machinery and spare parts to be imported into the Vietnamese market.

He suggested that the Czech Republic create favourable conditions for Vietnamese garments and textiles, footwear, agricultural products, seafood, and tropical fruits to gain access to its market.

PM Chinh also suggested that the Czech Republic ramp up the establishment of educational links with Vietnam, including granting more scholarships to Vietnamese students and backing the EU’s early removal of the "yellow card" for Vietnamese seafood.

The Vietnamese PM also thanked the Czech Government for facilitating the Vietnamese community in becoming an ethnic minority in the Central European country, allowing people to settle down and conduct business for a long time.

The Czech PM proposed the two countries continue to deepen their bilateral relations, effectively implement the EVFTA, and sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on co-operation in automobile production in the near future, including electric cars, defence, and security.

Furthermore, PM Fiala wishes to soon establish a direct flight route between the two countries as part of efforts to promote people-to-people exchanges and tourism.

He went on to praise the contributions to the host country of the Vietnamese community living, working, and studying in the Czech Republic.

As part of the occasion, PM Chinh cordially invited the Czech PM to visit Vietnam, with the offer accepted with pleasure. The specific time of the visit will be arranged through diplomatic channels in the near future.

At a meeting with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, the Vietnamese Government chief suggested that the two sides focus on promoting trade co-operation, making effective use of the EVFTA, and striving to bring two-way trade turnover to US$3 billion over the next two and three years.

He suggested that the Polish side create favourable conditions for Vietnam's seafood and seasonal tropical fruits such as litchi, longan, and dragon fruit, and to consider and approve the EVIPA as a means of unleashing the benefits that the agreement can bring.

PM Morawiecki expressed a desire to ramp up co-operation between the two countries in the fields of trade, medicine, shipbuilding, defence, and machine building.

He affirmed that Poland is keen to welcome more Vietnamese people to study and live in the Eastern European nation.

Upon meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriákos Mitsotákis, the two PMs were pleased to see that after nearly 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, relations between the two countries have progressed in a multitude of fields.

Both leaders agreed to further augment economic and trade co-operation, considering this to be a key priority for the two countries' relations.

The Vietnamese Government leader therefore urged both sides to capitalise on the terms of the EVFTA, while asking that Greece support training human resources for Vietnam in the field of food processing and aquaculture, as well as enhancing co-operation in research and development of sustainable agriculture and safe food processing in a bid to meet quality requirements of the European market.

PM Mitsotákis affirmed that Greece treasures relations with Vietnam, emphasising that President Katerina Sakellaropoulou's recent visit to Vietnam has created an important impetus for the two sides to further develop the traditional friendship that has yielded fruitful results.

The Greek PM proposed that the two sides seek to strengthen cooperation in energy, infrastructure, shipping, shipbuilding, and tourism. He expressed a desire and willingness to receive Vietnamese workers in Greece who can work in sectors such as infrastructure, agricultural production, and construction.

The two sides also consented to closely co-ordinate in international and regional forums, affirming the importance of promoting dialogue, consolidating trust, proposing peaceful settlements, and respecting the law, thereby contributing to consolidating an environment of peace, stability, co-operation, and development in the region and throughout the world.

At a meeting with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Pleković, the two leaders showed their elation at the good progress made in bilateral relations over recent years, jointly affirming the importance and high priority of continuing to develop friendly relations and sound co-operation between Vietnam and Croatia in the future.

The two sides agreed to further promote economic ties, serving the ongoing recovery and sustainable socio-economic development after the COVID-19 pandemic, continue to effectively implement dialogue and co-operation mechanisms, as well as speeding up the implementation of projects in potential fields, especially maritime, transportation, light industry, and clean energy.

They underlined the need to maintain and boost co-ordination in regional and international issues of shared concern, whilst jointly promoting the sustainable development of ASEAN-EU relations.

Meeting with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausea on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of both nations' diplomatic relations which were first set up in 1992, PM Chinh thanked the Government and people of Lithuania for supporting Vietnam in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

PM Chinh affirmed that the Vietnamese side has always placed importance to the traditional friendship relationship with Lithuania and proposed that the two sides further promote the exchange of delegations and high-level contacts moving forward.

The Vietnamese PM expects that the two countries will continue to strengthen co-operation in e-Government building, environmental protection, climate change response, and sustainable development.

In response, President Nausea agreed with the ideas and proposals made by PM Chinh, suggesting that the two countries soon sign an agreement on double taxation avoidance. He said that the Eastern European nation wants to co-operate alongside Vietnam in developing e-government, cybersecurity, building a supply chain of raw materials for iron and steel manufacturing, and food production.

President Nauseda expressed his wish to visit Vietnam with a business delegation in the near future to promote economic, trade, and investment relations between the two countries.

At meetings held with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, PM Chinh thanked the Netherlands and Luxembourg for welcoming the recent visits by the Vietnamese Government delegation.

The leaders agreed to assign relevant agencies to closely co-ordinate in realising commitments and measures agreed upon by parties during the visits, thereby boosting Vietnam-Netherlands and Vietnam-Luxembourg relations in an effective and substantive manner across a variety of fields.

At another meeting with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, PM Chinh emphasized that Vietnam treasures its relations with the EU, and suggested the two sides further coordinate to effectively realise the EVFTA.

He called on the EU to help Vietnam in maritime economic development, facilitate the export of Vietnamese products, soon remove the “yellow card” warning, and support the country in economic restructuring and sustainable development.

PM Chinh proposed the EC urge EU members to ratify the EVIPA to open up new investment opportunities for the two sides.

Leyen, for her part, recognised the progress the two sides have made in handling the “yellow card”, and affirmed that the EU strongly supports Vietnam in sustainable maritime economic development and biodiversity conservation, and stands ready to assist the nation in sustainable agricultural development, and cooperate with the country in ensuring food security in the region and the world.

On the occasion, PM Chinh also held meetings with  President of the European Council Charles Michel, and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis.